Support for Mackey Family- Mitch needs a kidney

My name is Ashley Helgeson and I’m starting this GoFundMe on behalf of our beautiful friends Mitch and Jenny Mackey. As you may or may not know, Mitch is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. This has obviously been an emotional rollercoaster for for Mitch, Jenny, and Haylee. This situation is stressful enough, that our hope, as friends who love them, is to alleviate some of the financial strain involved. If you know Mitch and Jenny, you know that they would never ask for help. And I want to be clear, they aren’t asking. I am asking. I am asking for their friends and family to rally around them during this difficult time and help ease what burden we can. Mitch is a wonderful guy. He would give his friends and family the shirt off his back.

Here is Mitch’s story in Jen’s words:

“How do you ask someone to help someone you love by saving their life? When I tell you it’s not easy and brings on the most awful guilt I’m not even touching the tip of the iceberg. Not many of you know this but our family has been fighting a silent fight since March when Mitch got Covid for the 2nd time. That was what it took, something he’s had before, to put him into kidney failure. Since then we have privately been back and forth to the U of M, renal specialists, and our doctors to plot a plan of action. Mitch was officially listed on the deceased donor waitlist months ago “inactive” due to a final test he can’t have until his kidney la completely stop working. The waitlist is 5-7 years long unless we find a living donor which would give him the best shot of a much longer and healthier life. We have struggled so hard in how to share this or even how to ask someone to do something so selfless as donate an organ, but here we are. I want my husband to walk our daughter down the aisle some day, I want to grow old with him, but we need help. This guy is my epicenter. My world. The love of my life. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I get to hold his hand for years to come. If you have ever considered being a living kidney donor and feel it in your heart to do so there is a code to scan on this card (I will add to the gofundme) to start the process. Our insurance pays for your testing and surgery and my family would be forever indebted to you on a level I can’t explain. You can elect to do this anonymously or not, and we could never be upset at anyone for trying and not making it through. If you’re made it this far reading, thank you. Thank you for even taking the time to read this and consider something we don’t even know how to ask for. ❤️ He is ABO/RD A positive for those asking.”

Mitch’a situation is progressing pretty quickly and the next steps are a fistula/port/dialysis.

How can we help?!

*Donate. Everything helps.

*Share the fundraiser.

*Consider getting tested to be a live donor. On a personal note, my father donated his kidney to my aunt over 30 years ago. Both he and my aunt are both doing well. If anyone would be interested in speaking to him about his

experience, I can connect you with him.

*Reach out with words of support and other acts of kindness.

Thank you!!